Royal scramble through to down Kingswood
View(s):By David Stephens
In a sluggish match which had an equal share of highlights and horrors, Royal College fumbled, tripped and scrambled to a 13 (two tries, one penalty) -7 (one goal) victory over Kingwood College, in their Singer Under 20 Inter-School Rugby League clash, played at the Royal College Sports Complex yesterday. Royal notched up their points through tries from winger Udesh Ranaweera and No.8 Pasindu Perera, while fly half Rimzi Jamaldeen scored from the spot. Kingswood could only register one try from Prop P. Priyankara, which was converted by fly half N. Perera.
A Royal player tries to make a breakthrough - Pic by Ranjith Perera
Both sides played an error-filled game which progressed in fits and starts. Kingswood were guilty of squandering possession on numerous occasions, oftentimes too willing to senselessly kick the ball when they had better options available to them.
However, Royal were given quite a few scares by the boys from Kandy, who burst forward with blistering speed when they were offered even an inch of open ground. Nevertheless, it was the Royalists who drew first blood after a rather dull opening 25 minutes.
As the ball was worked swiftly across the field, Ranaweera latched onto it while traipsing down the left flank, cut through the flimsy Kingswood defense and tore across the try line. Jamaldeen was unable to add to the score as he missed the ensuing conversion. The home crowd, which had been frustrated by so many close calls until then, burst into applause. But lasted only four minutes as Kingswood struck right back through Priyankara, who produced a scintillating run of his own after his side’s front row resiliently forged forward.
Kingswood thought they had done enough to ride into the halftime with a two point lead, but Royal had other ideas. After being awarded a penalty, they decided to chance a final score on the boots of Jamaldeen, and he did not disappoint. Jamaldeen took a spectacular kick from a near impossible angle, which gave them an 8-7 lead at the breather.
The second half saw more profligacy from Kingswood as they kept losing the ball in the ruck and were called for needless infringements. As a result, their play was stilted and Royal capitalized- although not as much as they should- 12 minutes into the second half.
Pasindu Perera danced down the right, shook off some unthreatening defense, and soared over the line for an unconverted try, which gave Royal an unconvincing win, but a win nonetheless.
Pic by Ranjith Perera
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